Triangle Strategy-Beyond Utility

Masterminds Revealed

This chapter mostly has some exposition. Though there will be another action sequence. I had fun portraying Exharme in this fic, but there wasn't really much more I can do with him without making him too OOC. As for Lyla, I honestly had mixed opinions of her. Still, I thought of something that shouldn't be too OOC for her, here.

Disclaimer: Triangle Strategy and its characters were made by Square.

Serenoa mentally braced himself, he didn't claim to have quite as much wisdom as Benedict, but he can possibly match wits with Exharme. Frederica, Roland, Alexandra and Caeden stood near him to give their support. Avlora stood protectively near Cordelia while Hughette stayed close to Roland.

"I wondered what your reasons were when you all but requested to join forces, Minister Exharme" Serenoa spoke, first"Lady Alexandra said she knew you to be the sort of person to seek glory for himself. I trust her, still, but were you by any chance in cahoots with each other?"

"I was not made aware of her involvement in recent events until after we joined forces." Exharme replied in a matter of fact tone"You, her and I each had our own plan that just happened to coincide. However." 

He looked at Serenoa with a small smile"Just a couple short fortnights ago, I corresponded with Lady Alexandra, I was greatly interested in what her motives were for aiding you and Lady Frederica."

Caeden had known Lady Alexandra for some months, now by virtue of the both of them helping Frederica and the rest of the Sect, she did not strike him as a deceptive sort of person"So, from what I understand, you and Lady Alexandra were not aware of each other's plans until after Lord Serenoa accepted your offer."

"I have made myself clear in that regard, Lord Caeden" Exharme responded, patiently"I learned that Lady Alexandra, while benevolent and caring on the outside, is but a poor, suffering young woman seeking justice for a great wrong. Am I wrong?"

Alexandra took a breath to maintain her composure"That is true... The heartbreak I suffered from the loss of my parents, and the disappointment I felt in those who chose foolishly to allow Hyzante to rule the entire continent, which allowed very little freedom for seeking wisdom and sharing new discoveries burns through my heart.

 That was the only reason I empathized with Lady Frederica enough to help her financial and living situations as her Sect gradually grew. We were both prisoners of our respective parents' histories."

"That may be so, but you were still so kind to me" Frederica told Alexandra, softly"I never once suspected you of any wrongdoing as we moved the Sect along in our quest to spread the truth as best we could. You are still my friend, Alexandra, but... Could you please elaborate some more on your activities?"

Alexandra was a bit surprised, but nodded calmly"Funding the Sect that would try to counter the fraudulent teachings of the Holy State was but one way to get back at the Saintly Seven for what they did. 

When I heard all there was to know of what happened since the day House Wolffort chose to allow Hyzante to enshroud Norzelia in its duplicity, I felt sorely disappointed that King Roland would give up our country's freedom, and that House Wolffort, the valiant, noble heroes of Glenbrook, would go along with it. While I loathed bloodshed and the very thought of starting another war, I knew that the Sect couldn't possibly succeed with just words."

"Wait a second" Serenoa interrupted"Did you spread the rumor of the Sect, then, Lady Alexandra?"

"No, the people of the Wolffort and Telliore demenses did that on their own, after Frederica tried to spread her people's story to them" Alexandra replied"But I did encourage the people in the Falkes Demense to spread the word to Whiteholm to ensure that someone from House Wolffort would pick up on it, what would happen after would have depended on what you chose to do after that point, Lord Serenoa."